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Are Zoos Good or Bad for Animals? The Argument, Explained

Debates about the ethics of zoos abound — but when it comes to animal welfare, there are certainly more cons than pros.

Explainer • Entertainment • Policy

Words by Björn Ólafsson

For many people, zoos are the only chance they’ll have in their entire lives to see beautiful animals native to far-flung ecosystems — lions, elephants, pandas, lemurs — the list goes on. And they’re popular — over 181 million people visit a U.S. zoo every year . But zoos face criticism from animal welfare organizations and environmental activists for inhumane treatment of the animals they claim to protect. Zoos maintain that they are important aspects of conservation and education. 

So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of zoos ?  Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of these controversial organizations. 

What Are Some Pros and Cons of Zoos ?

First, not all zoos are created equal. While it is easy to imagine animal ethics as a binary of evil and moral, zoos can vary widely on how they treat their animals, how much space they are given and how the animals are obtained. Still, most zoos tend to have the same positives and negatives overall. 

Arguments Against Zoos

Poor conditions for animals.

Animals Often Only Have Quite Limited Space

Many zoos’ enclosures are too small, especially for animal species that are used to roaming, flying or swimming large distances in the wild. For example, polar bears are used to home ranges of about 1,000 square kilometers in the wild — large swaths of land and ice they enjoy exploring . In zoos, they get a couple hundred square feet. 

Zoos Are  Crowded

In addition to limited space, many zoos cram in as many animals as possible into the enclosures. Many visitors prefer seeing animals up close, instead of peering at them from afar, hidden in their dens or nests. This encourages zoos to increase the number of animals per exhibit,  increasing the likelihood of visitors seeing animals on the move near the boundaries of the enclosure. 

Animals Are Trapped in Unnatural Environments

Anyone who has visited a zoo knows the exhibits are a far cry from the natural landscape they are trying to imitate. Nearly all zoo enclosures contain fences, glass or other barriers for visitors to look through, which are inherently artificial. And the natural-seeming landscapes can sometimes be made out of astroturf, concrete or plastic.

Confinement May Alter the Behavior of Animals

The lack of space, unnatural environments and crowded conditions can directly affect the behavior of animals ; most notably in the form of what’s known as “stereotypy.” Stereotypy is a condition in which non-human animals engage in repetitive behaviors with no apparent purpose, such as pacing for hours on end, wagging tails abnormally or picking their own fur. 

The structure of zoos increases the likelihood of stereotypic behavior due to a lack of enrichment, mundane environments and boring, repetitive schedules. This prevalence of stereotypy in zoos even has its own name: “zoochosis,” or psychosis caused by zoos . 

‘Surplus’ Animals Can Be Killed

After an animal has reproduced successfully and the zoo no longer requires the animal to maintain an exhibit, the animal is deemed “surplus.” At this point, the animal’s welfare is no longer profitable . Zoos can sell the animal to private owners (who may keep the animal in tiny cages for amusement or kill the animal for taxidermy purposes), sell the animal to other zoos or enclosures, or “euthanize” the animal. 

Animals Are Often Mistreated 

Animal mistreatment is much more than hitting or beating an animal. It also includes harmful training techniques, separation from family members and forcing animals to behave in abnormal ways. 

In a report from World Animal Protection, three-fourths of zoos include human-animal interactions , many of which can be very stressful or physically harmful for animals. In some extreme cases, visitors rode on the backs of animals (causing injury) or encroached on the animals’ enclosure (causing stress).

Investigations into popular zoos sometimes reveal that caretakers don’t always clean the exhibits frequently , leaving the animals to live near their feces. The research also reveals many zookeepers hitting animals who “misbehave,” and not helping animals with injuries sustained in the enclosures. While not all animal caretakers behave this way, the reporting suggests many zoos around the world are lax with animal welfare. 

Animals Don’t Like Being Visited

The mere presence of human beings can negatively affect wild animals, especially in massive crowds that are common at zoos. Being bombarded by the sounds, smells and appearances of swaths of humans can trigger the stress responses of some animals . Some studies show that the number of visitors correlates with the amount of stress hormones in many animal species. 

Animals Struggle to Form Connections

Many animals are highly social creatures. Elephants, lions, pigs, cows and many more species are shown to have complex connections, hierarchies and relationships with members of their own kind — especially with friends and family. However, zoo animals rarely stay with the same herd or family for their entire lives. Instead, zoos opt to transfer, sell, buy or relocate animals throughout their lifespans, making it difficult for animals to form social connections . This lack of bonding can harm the animals emotionally. 

Zoos Are for Humans, Not Animals

Most zoos are for-profit enterprises, meaning they have one goal in mind: maximizing revenue. It is easy to see how making more money can come at the expense of animal welfare. For example, a zoo is unlikely to fund an exhibit expansion if it isn’t cost-effective, regardless of its benefits for the animals inside. While many zookeepers form real bonds with their animal companions, the animals still exist under a for-profit, human-centered organization. 

Zoos Promote Human Superiority

The aesthetic nature of zoos — animals in panopticon-like enclosures, viewed 24/7 by members of a different species — can reinforce human superiority. As moral philosopher Lori Gruen writes in her book, “visitors leave the zoo more convinced than ever of human superiority over the natural world.” Of course, zoos also reinforce the idea that humans have a right to take away animals’ freedom and bodily autonomy.

Zoos Don’t Always Help with Conservation — Some Wild Animals Have to Be Caught to Bring Them to Zoos

Many animals in zoos are born in captivity, but that’s not the case for all. Many animals are taken directly from the wild , often when they are babies, to make the transition to captivity a bit easier. At times, this is done in the name of conservation, or when a wild animal is very ill. But many zoos will take animals from the wild, or buy animals from unethical animal traders. 

It’s Often Not Possible to Return Animals to the Wild

Releasing an animal into the wild isn’t always successful, especially if the animal has spent time in climates different from their native regions, like jungles, savannas or ice caps. Properly preparing animals for success in the wild is a multi-stage process that can require thousands of dollars — and it doesn’t always work . Captive-born predator species — disadvantaged by being born and raised in an artificial environment — only have a survival rate after being released into the wild of 33 percent , according to one study. As a result, re-release is not a priority for many zoos.

Zoos Are Poorly Regulated

While there exist many laws that protect animals, such as the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and the Endangered Species Act , they only offer minimum protections . For example, the AWA excludes entire species of animals, like mice, farmed animals, birds and all cold-blooded animals. Its “minimum” standards of care usually ensure the animals’ safety, not their welfare or happiness. Many animal law experts say these regulations don’t go far enough . 

What Are the Pros of Having Zoos?

They Can Be Important for Researchers

Biologists and zoologists can benefit from studying animals in zoos. Some breakthroughs in animal behavior and treatment, like why elephants swing their trunks or how gorillas develop heart disease, have been made possible because of zoos’ ease of access . However, not all animals behave the same in captivity as they do in the wild, so not all research is possible in zoos. 

Zoos Are Educational — People May Behave “Eco-friendlier” After Going To the Zoo

Zoos can kickstart individuals’ interest in biodiversity, which is a critical aspect of environmental protection. Many zoos include calls to action in their exhibits, highlighting how endangered animals are being poached, driven away, or otherwise killed by human activity. This can inspire some people to behave more conscientiously. One limited survey found that 35 percent of eco-friendly people learned sustainable behavior from zoos . ‘

Zoos Can Help Educate Children About Animals

Zoos are a quintessential school experience for many young people. Children love learning about animals up-close in a safe environment — in fact, education is possibly the biggest advantage of modern zoos. Many programs, like school presentations, guided tours, informational exhibits, and talks with zookeepers can trigger a lifelong love of animals in children .  

But zoos aren’t perfect in this regard. According to a study of zoo visitors in the UK, only 34 percent of children learned more about animals at zoos (the result was slightly better when the children were given  a guided tour). Worse, children did not feel empowered to help with conservation efforts after visiting a zoo. This suggests that if zoos care about education, they need to more actively reach out to schoolchildren for empowerment and education. 

Going to the Zoo Is Affordable

More ethical ways of engaging with animals without removing them from their natural habitats — like whale watching, safaris, hikes, or excursions — are usually expensive or inaccessible for many people. Zoos tend to be relatively cheap for the average family that wants to learn about animals. 

Conservation

Zoos Can Protect Endangered Species from Extinction

Zoos often claim they can protect entire species from extinction through conservation programs that involve breeding more animals in captivity and then releasing them into the wild. This is especially important for endangered species like pandas. 

While these conservation efforts are truly important, they don’t represent the majority of a zoo’s activities, nor are zoos leaders in conservation worldwide. At the National Zoo, for example, only one-fifth of animals are endangered . In North America, zoos only contribute about 14 percent of all animals reintroduced into the wild as part of a conservation program. Zoos also tend to focus on headline-grabbing endangered animals to bring in visitors, like pandas, elephants or tigers, as opposed to lesser-known but crucial species, like tamarins, kakapos or wombats. 

Are Zoos Good or Bad for the Environment?

Zoos claim to support global biodiversity through conservation efforts like protecting endangered animals. This is somewhat true, although it varies greatly from zoo to zoo. 

On the other hand, zoos are big polluters and use up lots of resources , especially energy and water . Aquariums in particular use tons and tons of water. Zoo animals also generate waste that may or may not be composted or disposed of correctly.

Should Zoos Exist or Be Banned?

Given the many ways that zoos are unethical to animals, the flawed attempts to contribute to conservation, and the positioning of humans as superior to animals, many animal ethicists believe zoos should not exist — or at least, not exist in their current form . 

For example, animal philosopher Dale Jamieson says in his book Ethics on the Ark that zoos primarily “alleviate our sense of guilt for what we are doing to the planet, but they do little to help the animals we are driving to extinction.” He continues to argue that zoos exist for humans alone , and that it is very difficult to wave away the inherent immorality of depriving animals their liberty for the sake of human amusement. 

Instead, private conservation programs can benefit endangered animals without showcasing them to the public. Animal sanctuaries, which are  areas of land in which endangered and other animals are protected by humans, are also advantageous for both individual animals and global biodiversity . 

Zoos do have advantages — fostering curiosity and education chief among them. But experts believe there are other ways of accomplishing these goals without resorting to zoos with tiny enclosures. Excursions, nature documentaries, safaris, local gardens, hikes, boat tours and other ways of interacting with nature don’t involve taking animals out of their natural habitats. 

The Bottom Line

If you do choose to visit a zoo, opt for zoos that have certifications from independent animal welfare organizations. If you are interested in animal conservation, you’d be more impactful donating to a non-zoo animal protection organization instead. And if you do want to visit animals, consider an animal sanctuary or an ethical safari, where you can see animals in their native environments.

Independent Journalism Needs You

Björn Jóhann Ólafsson is a science writer and journalist who cares deeply about understanding the natural world and her inhabitants through stories and data. He reports on the environmental footprint of the meat industry, the alternative protein sector and cultural attitudes around food. His previous bylines include the EU Observer and Elemental. He lives in Spain with his two lovebirds.

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In this IELTS Zoo Essay you have to discuss whether you think zoos are cruel and should be shut down or whether they are useful as they protect some wild animals.

Essays on zoos have appeared in the IELTS test before and this was a question that was recently in the test.

Some people think that zoos are all cruel and should be closed down. Others however believe that zoos can be useful in protecting wild animals.

Discuss both opinions and give your own opinion.

Understanding the Question

You must always read the question carefully and note if there is anything restricting the topic.

You have to discuss both sides of the argument and with this zoo essay question it would be very easy to read it and then simply write about the benefits and drawbacks of zoos.

But look at this bit carefully:

• Others however believe that zoos can be useful in protecting wild animals .

One of the arguments is specifically about protecting animals. So when you discuss the second argument you must be careful not to just write generally about the advantage of zoos. 

You have to focus on how they may protect wild animals . So when you brainstorm your ideas for the zoo essay, you should be thinking about:

• why animals need protecting and
• how zoos can help with this 

And in your other body paragraph you would need to explain why they are also seen as cruel. 

And of course you must remember to give your own opinion. In this essay, the author makes it clear at the beginning that they support the closing down of zoos. 

The opinion you decide on though is of course your choice.

Zoo Essay Sample

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.

Write at least 250 words.

Zoo Essay Model Answer

Zoos remain popular places for people to visit for entertainment and to learn about wild animals. Although some people are of the opinion that zoos can provide a sanctuary for endangered animals and so should be kept open, I believe that the cruelty that animals suffer outweighs this benefit, and that they should be shut down.

These days, animals are under threat from humans in many ways, seen for example in the way that their habitats are being destroyed through the cutting down of rain forests, or through poaching. Following on from this, the argument is that zoos can protect some of these animals that are under threat. The reason is that they are in a safe environment managed by trained staff who can ensure the animals are looked after and can produce offspring. There are examples of successes in this respect, such as with Pandas, which have been endangered for many years but have been protected.

However, there are more convincing arguments for why zoos should be shut down. Firstly, even though some species are under threat, there are lots of animals which do not fall into this category and who are there just for the entertainment of visitors. While it may be fun and educational to see them, animals are not meant to be caged, and their distress can often be seen in the way many of them pace back and forwards all day. Not only this, if the prime reason of zoos is to protect animals, this could be done in other environments such as wild life parks where the animals have more freedom.

In conclusion, animals should be protected but this does not have to be in zoos. Zoos are cruel to animals, not similar enough to their natural habitat, and they should be closed down. 

(299 Words)

Band scores are given for task response, coherence and cohesion, lexis (vocabulary) and grammatical range and accuracy. 

This zoo essay would get a good score for task response as it fully answers the question by discussing both opinions and giving a personal opinion. Ideas are also well explained, extended and supported. 

It would get a good score for coherence and cohesion as it is organised coherently and logically and is easy to follow. The introduction introduces the topic then there is a thesis statement.

One body paragraph discusses one side of the argument, and the other discusses the other side. The second body paragraph is also the writers opinion, and this is summarised again in the conclusion

.There is some interesting vocabulary and phrases. For example:

• sanctuary for endangered animals
• under threat from humans
• habitats are being destroyed
• produce offspring
• successes in this respect
• not meant to be caged
• natural habitat

There are also some good complex grammatical constructions and the grammar is precise. For example, the red words show that some of these are  adverbial clauses ,  noun clauses  and  relative clauses :

• Although  some people are of the opinion  that  zoos can provide a sanctuary for endangered animals...
• ...seen for example  in the way that  their habitats are being destroyed...
• ...the argument is  that  zoos can protect some of these animals who are under threat.
• ...trained staff  who  can ensure the animals are looked after...
• Pandas  who  have been endangered...
• ... even though  some species are under threat...
• ... While  it may be fun and educational...

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Are Zoos Ethical? Arguments for and Against Keeping Animals in Zoos

Zoos, if done right, could be a good thing for the animals and the public—yet many so-called zoos get it terribly wrong.

• University of Southern California

• Ohio Wesleyan University
• Brandeis University
• Northeastern University
• Animal Rights
• Endangered Species

A Brief History of Zoos

Arguments for zoos, arguments against zoos, the last word on zoos.

A zoo is a place where captive animals are put on display for humans to see. While early zoos (shortened from zoological parks) concentrated on displaying as many unusual creatures as possible—often in small, cramped conditions—the focus of most modern zoos is conservation and education. While zoo advocates and conservationists argue that zoos save endangered species and educate the public, many  animal rights activists believe the cost of confining animals outweighs the benefits, and that the violation of the rights of individual animals—even in efforts to fend off extinction—cannot be justified.

Humans have kept wild animals for thousands of years. The first efforts to keep wild animals for non-utilitarian uses began about 2500 BCE, when rulers in Mesopotamia, Egypt kept collections in enclosed pens.  Modern zoos began to evolve during the 18th century and the Age of Enlightenment, when scientific interest in zoology, as well as the study of animal behavior and anatomy, came to the fore.

Early zoos were a dismal affair. Animals were kept in small enclosures with little if any, greenery. With a scant understanding of what the various animals needed, many perished relatively quickly. In accredited U.S. zoos (and elsewhere) things are better now, fortunately. Primates, for example, have gone from barren cages with little furniture to naturalistic and sometimes semi-free-ranging designs. But is it enough?

• By bringing people and animals together, zoos educate the public and foster an appreciation of other species.
• Zoos save endangered species by bringing them into a safe environment, where they are protected from poachers, habitat loss, starvation, and predators.
• Many zoos have breeding programs for endangered species. In the wild, these individuals might have trouble finding mates and breeding, and species could become extinct.
• Some zoos have conservation programs around the world that use the zoo's expertise and funding to help protect wildlife against poaching and other threats.
• Reputable zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums are held to high standards for the treatment of their resident animals. According to AZA, its accreditation guarantees that the organization has undergone strict evaluation by recognized experts to ensure the highest standards of "animal management and care, including living environments, social groupings, health, and nutrition."
• A good zoo provides an enriched habitat in which the animals are never bored, are well cared for, and have plenty of space.
• Seeing an animal in person is a much more personal and more memorable experience than seeing that animal in a nature documentary and is more likely to foster an empathetic attitude toward animals.
• Some zoos help rehabilitate wildlife and take in exotic pets that people no longer want or are no longer able to care for.
• Both accredited and unaccredited animal exhibitors are regulated by the federal Animal Welfare Act, which establishes standards for animal care.
• From an animal rights standpoint, humans do not have a right to breed, capture, and confine other animals— even if those species are endangered . Being a member of an endangered species doesn't mean the individual animals should be afforded fewer rights.
• Animals in captivity suffer from boredom, stress, and confinement. No pen—no matter how humane—or drive-through safari can compare to the freedom of the wild.
• Intergenerational bonds are broken when individuals are sold or traded to other zoos.
• Baby animals bring in visitors and money, but this incentive to breed new baby animals leads to overpopulation. Surplus animals are sold not only to other zoos, but also to circuses and hunting facilities. Some zoos simply kill their surplus animals outright.
• Some captive breeding programs do not release animals back into the wild. The offspring may be forever part of the chain of zoos, circuses, and petting zoos.
• Removing individual specimens from the wild further endangers the wild population because the remaining individuals will be less genetically diverse and may have greater difficulty finding mates. Maintaining species diversity within captive breeding facilities is also a challenge. 
• If people want to see wild animals in real life, they can observe wildlife in the wild or visit a sanctuary. (A true sanctuary does not buy, sell, or breed animals, but instead takes in unwanted exotic pets, surplus animals from zoos, or injured wildlife that can no longer survive in the wild.)
• The federal Animal Welfare Act establishes only the most minimal standards for cage size, shelter, health care, ventilation, fencing, food, and water. For example, enclosures must provide "sufficient space to allow each animal to make normal postural and social adjustments with adequate freedom of movement. Inadequate space may be indicated by evidence of malnutrition, poor condition, debility, stress, or abnormal behavior patterns." Violations often result in a slap on the wrist and the exhibitor is given a deadline to correct the violation. Even a long history of inadequate care and AWA violations, such as the history of Tony the Truck Stop Tiger, does not necessarily ensure abused animals will be freed.
• Animals sometimes escape their enclosures, endangering themselves as well as people. Likewise, people ignore warnings or accidentally get too close to animals, leading to horrific outcomes. For example, Harambe, a 17-year-old western lowland gorilla, was shot in 2016 when a toddler accidentally fell into his enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo. While the child survived and was not badly injured, the gorilla was killed outright.
• Petting zoos have been linked with numerous incidents of diseases including E. coli infection, cryptosporidiosis, salmonellosis, and dermatomycosis (ringworm).

In making a case for or against zoos, both sides argue that they're saving animals. Whether or not zoos benefit the animal community, they certainly do make money. As long as there is demand for them, zoos will continue to exist.

Since zoos are likely an inevitability, the best way to move forward is to ensure that zoo conditions are the best possible for the animals that live in captivity and that individuals who violate animal care health and safety sanctions are not only duly punished but denied any future access to animals.

One day we may look back at zoos and marvel at their barbarity. Or, one day we may look back at zoos and be grateful for the species they saved from extinction. Of these two scenarios, only time will tell.

Hosey, Geoff, et al. Zoo Animals: Behaviour, Management, and Welfare . Oxford University Press. 2013.

Hosey, G. (2023). The History of Primates in Zoos . In: Robinson, L.M., Weiss, A. (eds) Nonhuman Primate Welfare. Springer, Cham.

“ Species Survival Plan Programs .” Association of Zoos & Aquariums.

“ Accreditation Basics .” Association of Zoos & Aquariums .

“ Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations .” U.S. Department of Agriculture .

Meagher, Rebecca K., Georgia J. Mason. “ Environmental Enrichment Reduces Signs of Boredom in Caged Mink .” PLoS ONE , vol. 7, 2012, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0049180

Kleiman, Devra G., et al. Wild Mammals In Captivity: Principles And Techniques For Zoo Management, Second Edition . University of Chicago Press. 2010.

Gunasekera, Crystal Allen. “ The Ethics of Killing “Surplus” Zoo Animals .” Journal of Animal Ethics , vol. 8, 2018, doi:10.5406/janimalethics.8.1.0093

Brichieri-Colombi, Typhenn A., et al. “ Limited Contributions of Released Animals from Zoos to North American Conservation Translocations .” Conservation Biology , vol. 33, 2019, pp. 33-39., doi:10.1111/cobi.13160

Krasnec, Michelle O., et al. “ Mating Systems in Sexual Animals .” Nature Education Knowledge, vol. 3, no. 10, 2012, p. 72.

“ 9 CFR § 3.128 - Space Requirements .” Cornell University Legal Information Institute .

“ Animal Welfare Act Enforcement .” U.S. Department of Agriculture .

Conrad, Cheyenne C. Conrad et al. " Farm Fairs and Petting Zoos: A Review of Animal Contact as a Source of Zoonotic Enteric Disease ." Foodborne Pathogens and Disease, vol. 14, 2017, pp. 59-73., doi:10.1089/fpd.2016.2185

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Should Animals Be Kept in Zoos? Essay

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• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
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Cover Letter

Works cited.

This essay explores the dilemma of keeping animals in zoos. In this essence, the legitimacy of restricting the animals is investigated.

Moreover, the essay seeks to establish harmony between advocacy for abolition of zoos and the need to preserve some species of animals. In addition, there is the necessity to control the interaction between animals and human beings.

I have observed that there is no solution to such dilemmas. Any observer has to establish a middle ground and maintain balance between the arguments. This is because it is not possible to take a radical action on the issue at hand.

I had an experience of arguing over the issue, which has two equal sides while writing the paper. I was able to examine both sides of the argument and analyze the arguments.

While it seemed appropriate to me that people should keep animals in the zoos prior to this assignment, my perception changed after analyzing both sides of the argument. I had to take a middle ground and analyze the perceptions as a neutral observer.

When writing the arguments in the paper, it became difficult to make an objective analysis of the arguments due to the influence of personal opinion. It is difficult to establish a middle ground that does not favor either side.

The topic of the essay generates significant interest in me because most people assume that animals have their specific places in the ecosystem, which are subject to manipulation by human beings at will.

On the other hand, liberal people advocate that fair competition can exist between animals and people naturally. This article proves that neither case is entirely true.

Throughout the history of humanity, interaction with animals has been inevitable. Superiority of human beings has made them highly competitive. Other living things have to adapt to new environments or leave their natural habitat to create space for human beings and their activities.

The human population is evenly distributed around the world. On the other hand, animal population is partially distributed, with different species occupying different parts of the world. Since animals have always fascinated people, there has always been the urge to observe animals and their behavior.

In addition, all living organisms on earth survive through competition for resources with each other (McKinley & Shepard 65). This has led to endangerment of some species of animals. Generally, animals are considered important to human beings, regardless of the material value of each species.

Gradually, it has become important to protect animal species that are facing the danger of extinction, either due to encroachment of their immediate space in the ecosystem, or due to competition with other organisms whose lives depend on common resources.

For this reason, zoos have been built, and animals are kept inside for the sole purpose of preservation of animal life or for entertainment (Norton 42). It is true that the zoos protect a small number of animals from the competition that exists in their natural habitat.

In this way, they protect the species from extinction, and satisfy human being’s curiosity as people go for sightseeing at zoos as a recreational activity (Norton 21).

Most zoos keep wild animals, and majority of the animal population at the zoos is made up of animals that are rarely seen by human beings in their immediate environment. These animals are used to roaming in the jungle and forests.

Others are used to swimming freely in the seas and rivers. However, due to limited space, zoos keep the animals in a much smaller and controlled environment. Obviously, there is restriction of freedom for the animals in order to contain them in the zoo.

For most of their lives, the animals in the zoo do not lead a normal life like other wild animals. They are protected from the competition in the ecosystem due to their perceived importance to human beings. However, this is a serious impediment to their freedom too.

Animals are not allowed to roam freely during the day or night, as they would have done in a free environment. On the other hand, the rigors of competing with other wild animals are eliminated from their lives.

Moreover, the animals receive special treatment as they are provided with veterinary care, a service that other animals in the jungle and sea do not normally get (Robinson 53).

It is arguable that the setting of a zoo is analogous to a prison were felons are incarcerated to protect the society from their potentially harmful tendencies.

One might easily conclude that the animals in the zoo are in some kind of psychological distress due to disruption of their normal course of life and their detainment.

This view assumes that animals, like human beings, have the ability to discern the importance of freedom. Furthermore, the notion argues that animals have thoughts and feelings just like human beings.

It is difficult to establish these arguments as facts due to the limited emotional interaction between animals in the zoo and their keepers.

Thus, the idea that animals perceive physical freedom in a similar way as human beings is subject to debate (Mullan & Marvin 75).

Zoos are not primarily intended to curtail the freedom of an animal, but are designed to protect the animal from harsh environment. Normally, there are efforts to create an environment similar to the particular animal’s habitat in the zoo.

It is also difficult to assess whether the artificial environment created by zookeepers is identical to the natural habitat suitable for the animals.

This observation means that it is not entirely true that the zoos are aimed at curtailing the freedom of the animals (Brooman & Legge 85). Consequently, the animals may be better off at the zoo.

Moreover, it is not true that zoos completely change the normal course of life for the animals within it since there is an effort to simulate their natural habitat.

Some people are of the opinion that animals are inferior to human beings. This suggests that zoos are meant to restrict the animals within the zoo environment to protect human beings’ interest.

Some animals are dangerous to human life, while others compete against human being for resources. This is an obvious observation that has been under scientific study.

On the other hand, animals could be perceived to be equal to human beings. This means that the animals can compete for resources fairly against human beings.

Some people use this perspective to argue against establishment of zoos, which in their perspective, are the making of an unfair competition between animals and human beings.

The highlighted perceptions and observations present the dilemma of the existence of zoos. In a critical analysis of all radical perceptions, no single argument is proved entirely appropriate for the issue of zoos.

If zoos were to be eliminated as a way of protecting and preserving animal life, there would be dire consequences for humans and the animals themselves (Acampora 45).

It is an obvious observation that some animals would become extinct due to predation and competition from other animals in the natural habitat. People could also be affected by the interactions and conflicts between the animals and human beings.

While some animals would pose direct danger to human beings, others would affect the creations of human beings such as organized agriculture. It is thus obvious that a conflict will result from the freedom of animals.

However, this presents another question for argument since there is fairness in sharing of natural resources by living organisms in such a situation.

Although a relatively small number of animals are kept in the zoo, majority of animals are free and live in the wilderness. This brings up the issue of the scale of restriction of animals within zoos.

Keeping all animals in the zoo and eliminating them from their natural environment is an extreme action. This kind of an action would present a situation of extreme interference with nature. It is only logical that a balance between freedom of animals and existence of zoos has to be established.

Animals could be kept in an open environment that is similar to their natural habitat as much as possible. This would eliminated the problem of having animals in a zoo were cages similar to prison cells are used to contain the animals.

On the issue of competition, it would be unfair to let animals live free and compete against human beings in the natural environment. People would eliminate animals from the ecosystem due to their superiority in terms of logical reasoning.

This makes it necessary to provide some kind of protection for the animals. In this essence, zoos can neither be justified nor completely denounced.

Acampora, Ralph R.. Metamorphoses of the zoo: animal encounter after Noah . Lanham, Md.: Lexington Books, 2010. Print.

Brooman, Simon, and Debbie Legge. Law relating to animals . London: Cavendish, 1997. Print.

Mullan, Bob, and Garry Marvin. Zoo culture . 2nd ed. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1999. Print.

Norton, Bryan G.. Ethics on the ark: zoos, animal welfare, and wildlife conservation . Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1995. Print.

Robinson, Phillip T.. Life at the zoo: behind the scenes with the animal doctors . New York: Columbia University Press, 2004. Print.

Shepard, Paul, and Daniel McKinley. The subversive science; essays toward an ecology of man, . Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1969. Print.

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IvyPanda. (2019, April 8). Should Animals Be Kept in Zoos? https://ivypanda.com/essays/should-animals-be-kept-in-zoos/

"Should Animals Be Kept in Zoos?" IvyPanda , 8 Apr. 2019, ivypanda.com/essays/should-animals-be-kept-in-zoos/.

IvyPanda . (2019) 'Should Animals Be Kept in Zoos'. 8 April.

IvyPanda . 2019. "Should Animals Be Kept in Zoos?" April 8, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/should-animals-be-kept-in-zoos/.

1. IvyPanda . "Should Animals Be Kept in Zoos?" April 8, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/should-animals-be-kept-in-zoos/.

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Home — Essay Samples — Environment — Conservation — Pros And Cons Of Zoos

Pros and Cons of Zoos

• Categories: Animal Welfare Conservation Zoo

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Words: 417 |

Published: Mar 16, 2024

Words: 417 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Table of contents

Pros of zoos, cons of zoos.

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Zoos and Rare Animals

by Dave | Real Past Tests | 2 Comments

This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on whether zoos are cruel and exploitive or helpful for rare animals from the real IELTS exam.

Be sure to sign up for on Patreon.com/HowtodoIELTS for my exclusive Ebooks and other materials!

Many people think that zoos are cruel. Others think they are helpful in protecting rare animals. Discuss both sides and give your own opinion. Real Past IELTS Exam

Some concerned groups feel that zoos are cruelly exploitative while others argue they serve the vital function of protecting endangered animals. In my opinion, though zoos are inherently unnatural, their efforts are laudable overall.

Those activists who decry the existence of zoos often point out how animals live in the wild. A lion in the African Serengeti, one of the few remaining preserves for lions in their natural habitat, roams over miles of grassland, hunts for meals and competes with rival prides. This is how lions have lived for thousands of years and is the natural byproduct of a generational process of evolution. The same lion placed in a zoo paces a small cage, is tossed already dead meat to eat, and rarely has other lions to interact or mate with. The evidence for zoos as a cruel institution lies in the contrasting of a natural and unnatural lifestyle and turning proud beasts into scavengers.

Regardless, zoos are essential for the preservation and cultivation of endangered species. There are countless animals ranging from various big cats (lions, tigers, leopards, and other sub-species), to pandas, rhinoceros, gorillas, pangolins and many more that depend on zoos for protection and safe breeding grounds. These animals have been driven to the brink of extinction either by loss of habitat due to rampant development and climate change or hunted for their fur or alleged medicinal properties. Responsible zoos are tasked with breeding them in order to stabilise falling populations and then re-introducing them into the wild. Without these zoos, many species would likely already have gone extinct.

In conclusion, zoos are fundamentally artificial but also a net positive because of their conservation efforts. To ensure this remains the case, these refuges must be well-regulated and governments should enact complementary solutions such as anti-poaching laws.

1. Some concerned groups feel that zoos are cruelly exploitative while others argue they serve the vital function of protecting endangered animals. 2. In my opinion, though zoos are inherently unnatural, their efforts are laudable overall.

• Paraphrase the topic for the essay.
• Give a clear opinion.

1. Those activists who decry the existence of zoos often point out how animals live in the wild. 2. A lion in the African Serengeti, one of the few remaining preserves for lions in their natural habitat, roams over miles of grassland, hunts for meals and competes with rival prides. 3. This is how lions have lived for thousands of years and is the natural byproduct of a generational process of evolution. 4. The same lion placed in a zoo paces a small cage, is tossed already dead meat to eat, and rarely has other lions to interact or mate with. 5. The evidence for zoos as a cruel institution lies in the contrasting of a natural and unnatural lifestyle and turning proud beasts into scavengers.

• Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea/reason at the end of the sentence.
• Begin a specific example.
• Develop the example.
• Continue developing it – here I switch to contrast the life of a lion in a zoo.
• Finish developing it and make an overall statement to relate back to the overall question.

1. Regardless, zoos are essential for the preservation and cultivation of endangered species. 2. There are countless animals ranging from various big cats (lions, tigers, leopards, and other sub-species), to pandas, rhinoceros, gorillas, pangolins and many more that depend on zoos for protection and safe breeding grounds. 3. These animals have been driven to the brink of extinction either by loss of habitat due to rampant development and climate change or hunted for their fur or alleged medicinal properties. 4. Responsible zoos are tasked with breeding them in order to stabilise falling populations and then re-introducing them into the wild. 5. Without these zoos, many species would likely already have gone extinct.

• Another topic sentence with a clear main idea.
• Explain your main idea.
• Here I state the causes for animals to be in zoos because that supports the need for zoos.
• I further develop the main purpose of zoos.
• Conclude your paragraph with a strong sentence.

1. In conclusion, zoos are fundamentally artificial but also a net positive because of their conservation efforts. 2. To ensure this remains the case, these refuges must be well-regulated and governments should enact complementary solutions such as anti-poaching laws.

• Repeat your opinion.
• Add a final thought/detail to get full marks from the IELTS examiner.

What do the words in bold below mean?

Some concerned groups feel that zoos are cruelly exploitative while others argue they serve the vital function of protecting endangered animals . In my opinion, though zoos are inherently unnatural , their efforts are laudable overall .

Those activists who decry the existence of zoos often point out how animals live in the wild. A lion in the African Serengeti , one of the few remaining preserves for lions in their natural habitat , roams over miles of grassland , hunts for meals and competes with rival prides . This is how lions have lived for thousands of years and is the natural byproduct of a generational process of evolution . The same lion placed in a zoo paces a small cage , is tossed already dead meat to eat, and rarely has other lions to interact or mate with . The evidence for zoos as a cruel institution lies in the contrasting of a natural and unnatural lifestyle and turning proud beasts into scavengers .

Regardless , zoos are essential for the preservation and cultivation of endangered species . There are countless animals ranging from various big cats (lions, tigers, leopards, and other sub-species ), to pandas, rhinoceros, gorillas, pangolins and many more that depend on zoos for protection and safe breeding grounds . These animals have been driven to the brink of extinction either by loss of habitat due to rampant development and climate change or hunted for their fur or alleged medicinal properties . Responsible zoos are tasked with breeding them in order to stabilise falling populations and then re-introducing them into the wild . Without these zoos, many species would likely already have gone extinct .

In conclusion, zoos are fundamentally artificial but also a net positive because of their conservation efforts . To ensure this remains the case , these refuges must be well-regulated and governments should enact complementary solutions such as anti-poaching laws .

concerned groups people who care

cruelly exploitative take advantage of badly

serve the vital function are important because of

protecting endangered animals keeping animals safe with low population numbers

inherently unnatural fundamentally artificial

laudable overall good in general

activists people who care about a specific issue

decry denounce

point out argue

African Serengeti grassland preserve in Africa

preserves conservation lands

natural habitat where they normally live

roams over miles of grassland walks around lots of fields

competes fights with

rival prides other groups of lions

natural byproduct the normal result of

generational process of evolution many years of adaptation

placed in put in

paces walks around

cage enclosure

tossed thrown

rarely sometimes

interact be around other lions

mate with breed, have children with

evidence support

cruel institution lies in evil zoos comes from

contrasting different

natural and unnatural lifestyle what are normal and artifical ways of living

proud beasts animals with dignity

scavengers animals that pick up already dead food

regardless nonetheless

preservation keeping safe

cultivation developing

endangered species animal at risk of going extinct

countless many

sub-species species within a species such as types of frogs, cats, etc.

pangolins a scaly mammal that rolls itself into a ball

depend on rely on

protection conservation

safe breeding grounds places where they can mate and have offspring

driven to the brink of extinction nearly all gone

loss of habitat no more home

rampant development changing a lot, industrialisation

climate change global warming

alleged medicinal properties supposed medical effects

responsible zoos good zoos

tasked with breeding have the duty of helping them mate

stabilise falling populations stop the numbers from decreasing

re-introducing them into the wild letting them go free

extinct all gone

fundamentally artificial at base not natural

net positive overall good

conservation efforts trying to keep them safe

To ensure this remains the case so that this is true

refuges places to be safe

well-regulated lots of oversight

enact complementary solutions pass laws to also protect animals

anti-poaching laws prevent people hunting animals

Pronunciation

Listen and repeat:

kənˈsɜːnd gruːps   ˈkrʊəli ˈɛksplɔɪt ˈrɛlətɪv sɜːv ðə ˈvaɪtl ˈfʌŋkʃən   prəˈtɛktɪŋ ɪnˈdeɪnʤəd ˈænɪməlz ɪnˈhɪərəntli ʌnˈnæʧrəl ˈlɔːdəbl ˈəʊvərɔːl ˈæktɪvɪsts   dɪˈkraɪ   pɔɪnt aʊt   ˈæfrɪkən ˌsɛrɪˈneɪd gɛt hiː prɪˈzɜːvz   ˈnæʧrəl ˈhæbɪtæt rəʊmz ˈəʊvə maɪlz ɒv ˈgrɑːslænd kəmˈpiːts   ˈraɪvəl praɪdz ˈnæʧrəl ˈbaɪˌprɒdʌkt   ˌʤɛnəˈreɪʃən(ə)l ˈprəʊsɛs ɒv ˌiːvəˈluːʃən pleɪst ɪn   ˈpeɪsɪz   keɪʤ tɒst   ˈreəli   ˌɪntərˈækt   meɪt wɪð ˈɛvɪdəns   krʊəl ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃən laɪz ɪn   kənˈtrɑːstɪŋ   ˈnæʧrəl ænd ʌnˈnæʧrəl ˈlaɪfˌstaɪl   praʊd biːsts   ˈskævɪnʤəz rɪˈgɑːdlɪs ˌprɛzə(ː)ˈveɪʃən   ˌkʌltɪˈveɪʃən   ɪnˈdeɪnʤəd ˈspiːʃiːz ˈkaʊntlɪs   sʌb-ˈspiːʃiːz pæŋˈgəʊlɪnz   dɪˈpɛnd ɒn   prəˈtɛkʃən   seɪf ˈbriːdɪŋ graʊndz ˈdrɪvn tuː ðə brɪŋk ɒv ɪksˈtɪŋkʃən   lɒs ɒv ˈhæbɪtæt   ˈræmpənt dɪˈvɛləpmənt   ˈklaɪmɪt ʧeɪnʤ   əˈlɛʤd mɛˈdɪsɪnl ˈprɒpətiz rɪsˈpɒnsəbl zuːz   tɑːskt wɪð ˈbriːdɪŋ   ˈsteɪbɪlaɪz ˈfɔːlɪŋ ˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃənz   riː-ˌɪntrəˈdjuːsɪŋ ðɛm ˈɪntuː ðə waɪld ɪksˈtɪŋkt ˌfʌndəˈmɛntli ˌɑːtɪˈfɪʃ(ə)l   nɛt ˈpɒzətɪv   ˌkɒnsə(ː)ˈveɪʃən ˈɛfəts tuː ɪnˈʃʊə ðɪs rɪˈmeɪnz ðə keɪs ˈrɛfjuːʤɪz   wɛl-ˈrɛgjʊleɪtɪd   ɪˈnækt ˌkɒmplɪˈmɛntəri səˈluːʃənz   ˈænti-ˈpəʊʧɪŋ lɔːz

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

Some c______________________s feel that zoos are c_______________________e while others argue they s________________________n of p________________________________s . In my opinion, though zoos are i_________________________l , their efforts are l________________________l .

Those a______________s who d__________y the existence of zoos often p__________________t how animals live in the wild. A lion in the A______________________________i , one of the few remaining p________________s for lions in their n__________________t , r_____________________________d , hunts for meals and c_____________s with r_________________s . This is how lions have lived for thousands of years and is the n____________________t of a g____________________________________________n . The same lion p______________n a zoo p____________s a small c__________e , is t__________d already dead meat to eat, and r_____________y has other lions to i____________t or m_____________h . The e______________e for zoos as a c___________________________n the c________________g of a n___________________________________e and turning p__________________s into s____________________s .

R________________s , zoos are essential for the p__________________n and c_____________________n of e_____________________s . There are c_________________s animals ranging from various big cats (lions, tigers, leopards, and other s_________________s ), to pandas, rhinoceros, gorillas, p_________________s and many more that d_______________n zoos for p________________n and s______________________s . These animals have been d______________________________________n either by l_____________t due to r_______________________t and c__________________e or hunted for their fur or a_______________________________s . R_________________________s are t________________________g them in order to s___________________________s and then r______________________________d . Without these zoos, many species would likely already have gone e_____________t .

In conclusion, zoos are f_________________________l but also a n________________e because of their c__________________________s . T_____________________________________e , these r_________________s must be w_______________________d and governments should e_____________________________________s such as a__________________________s .

Listen and check:

Listening Practice

Listen more about the pros and cons of zoos here:

Reading Practice

Read more about how zoos are exploitative below:

https://slate.com/technology/2014/06/animal-madness-zoochosis-stereotypic-behavior-and-problems-with-zoos.html

Speaking Practice

Answer the questions below from the real speaking exam :

Have you ever had a pet? What kind of pets do people like to have? What kinds of pets are common in your country? Do many people in your country have pets? Real Past IELTS Exam

Writing Practice

Write about the related question below and then check with my sample answer:

Some people say that the main environmental problem of our time is the loss of particular species of plants and animals. Others say that there are more important environmental problems. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion. Real Past IELTS Exam

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer: Environmental Problems Plants and Animals (IELTS Cambridge 14)

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Zoos have been operating for thousands of years. While other people believe that it has a lot of helpful effects on animals and society, in my opinion, there are many negative impacts on animals’ physical and psychological health if they are in captivity. The following paragraphs discuss both views and reach a reasonable conclusion.

The motives of zoos preserving animals are indeed for the benefits of the majority. Firstly, zoo owners are protecting endangered animals through confinement because they are at risk when outside. Species such as elephants, tigers, lions, and pandas are the popular creatures people can see inside the zoo. Also, they consider showcasing animals in captivity as a way of educating humankind. It is also regarded as an exciting experience for children to see wild creatures personally. That is why the idea of caging endangered species is useful for human-being.

On the other hand, the well-being of animals in captivity is not ensured. There are some zoos that the resources for proper care are not sufficient. With this, the survival of other species living inside the cage, in terms of food and shelter, is not in a good hand. Besides, animals are not comfortable if they are not in their natural environment. Research shows that the monotonous routine and limited space in the animal’s conditions could lead to depression. For this reason, the behavioral development of these living creatures could become complicated.

In conclusion, there is no denying that capturing and displaying animals to the public could positively affect the people. However, it is also important to promote the diversity of the ecosystem and let animals live in their natural habitat for their survival.

Good Jessica!

While some believe, that they, will discuss, motives for zoos to house wildlife, when living in the wild, zoos where the resources, not as comfortable, could be problematic

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Gorillas explore at Florida’s Jacksonville Zoo. Designed to mimic a natural habitat, the primate exhibit offers animals room to play.

Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union via AP Images

Common Core: RH.6-8.1, RH.6-8.2, RH.6-8.7, RI.6-8.1, RI.6-8.2, RI.6-8.4, RI.6-8.5, RI.6-8.10, SL.6-8.1, SL.6-8.2, SL.6-8.4, SL.6-8.5, WHST.6-8.1, WHST.6-8.4, WHST.6-8.5

C3 (D2/6-8): Civ.7, Civ.9, Civ.10, Civ.12, Civ.13, Civ.14, Eco.1, Geo.9, His.1, His.2, His.4, His.5, His.14, His.15

NCSS: People, places, and environments; Culture; Time, continuity, and change; Individuals, groups, and institutions

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Animal Rights

The future of zoos, people have kept animals in cages for thousands of years. but new understanding about the lives of creatures in captivity is transforming how zoos treat and exhibit animals. are the changes enough, as you read, think about: is it our responsibility to protect animals from becoming extinct .

Courtesy of Jacksonville Zoo

A visitor greets one of the zoo’s lemurs.

Young gorillas wrestle together playfully. Monkeys scale a 50-foot tree. Bonobos shriek and swing on vines. Around them, massive rock formations, tropical plants, and long grasses fill the landscape.

The animals are native to Africa’s forests, and this habitat reflects that. But these primates actually live in Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens in Florida.

Every year, nearly 1 million people visit the zoo to watch the apes and monkeys run overhead through tunnels, to film them climbing, and even to touch hands with them—through the glass.

The primates’ expansive enclosure is a far cry from the metal cages that were once standard in zoos, and that’s no accident. Zoos used to be almost entirely focused on entertaining humans. But destruction of habitats, illegal hunting, and research about how captivity affects animals’ well-being have prompted zoos to embrace conservation and transform how they treat wildlife.

Young gorillas wrestle together playfully. Monkeys scale a 50-foot tree. Bonobos shriek and swing on vines. Around them, huge rock formations, tropical plants, and long grasses fill the landscape.

The animals are native to Africa’s forests. This habitat reflects that. But these primates actually live in Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens in Florida.

Every year, nearly 1 million people visit the zoo. They watch the apes and monkeys run overhead through tunnels. They film them climbing. They even touch hands with them through the glass.

The primates’ large enclosure is very different from the metal cages that were once standard in zoos. That is no accident. Zoos used to be almost entirely focused on entertaining humans. But now zoos are embracing conservation and changing how they treat wildlife. They have been prompted to do so by destruction of habitats, illegal hunting, and research about how captivity affects the well-being of animals.

195 million

Number of visitors u.s. zoos receive annually—equal to more than half the u.s. population.

SOURCE: Association of Zoos & Aquariums, U.S. Census Bureau

Some changes are easy to spot: Enclosures have been expanded. Natural vegetation has replaced concrete. Other changes are more behind-the-scenes: Zoos are teaming up to save endangered species. They’re also devoting millions of dollars to research and focusing on teaching visitors about challenges animals face in the wild.

Such efforts have won praise from many people. But zoo critics say that enclosures are still cages, no matter how many trees are in them. They argue that zoos are inhumane, pointing to studies that have shown that animals in captivity suffer from anxiety, boredom, and stress. Wild animals, the critics say, should be free.

Recently, the debate over keeping wildlife in captivity has grown even more heated. This past February, the London Zoo in the United Kingdom tried to mate two Sumatran tigers, a species that is critically endangered. But the male mauled the female to death before zookeepers could intervene. The incident shocked people around the world and caused many to ask: Have zoos transformed enough to truly benefit animals?

Some changes are easy to spot: Enclosures have been opened up. Natural vegetation has replaced concrete. Other changes are more behind-the-scenes. For example, zoos are teaming up to save endangered species. They are also devoting millions of dollars to research. And they are focusing on teaching visitors about challenges animals face in the wild.

Such efforts have won praise from many people. But zoo critics say that enclosures are still cages, no matter how many trees are in them. They argue that zoos are inhumane. They point to studies that have shown that animals in captivity suffer from anxiety, boredom, and stress. Zoo critics say that wild animals should be free.

Recently, the debate over keeping wildlife in captivity has grown even more heated. This past February, the London Zoo in the United Kingdom tried to mate two Sumatran tigers. That species is critically endangered. But the male mauled the female to death before zookeepers could stop it. The incident shocked people around the world. It caused many to wonder if zoos have changed enough to truly benefit animals.

Zoos of the Past

The earliest known menagerie existed in ancient Egypt more than 5,000 years ago (see Key Moments, above) . Modern zoos, which became popular in the early 1800s in Europe, have continued to capture humans’ fascination. That’s because zoos let people connect with wild animals in ways that just aren’t possible through books or YouTube videos, supporters say.

“Most people won’t have the opportunity to travel to Asia or Africa to see orangutans or elephants. But they can visit a zoo and see them up close,” says Rob Vernon of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). That group officially certifies zoos that meet strict standards for animal care, conservation, and education.

Just making eye contact with a tiger can leave a lasting impression. “People are much more likely to want to help conserve an animal if they learn about it and see it up close,” Vernon explains.

The earliest known menagerie existed in ancient Egypt more than 5,000 years ago (see Key Moments, above) . Modern zoos became popular in the early 1800s in Europe, and they still capture humans’ fascination. That is because zoos let people connect with wild animals in ways that are not possible through books or YouTube videos, supporters say.

Tom Mihalek/EPA/Shutterstock

CAT CROSSING: New designs, such as the mesh trails at the Philadelphia Zoo, give animals more choice in where they roam.

Saving Species

Many of the nation’s best zoos have made it their mission to protect animals, particularly endangered ones. They do that in part by studying the species they house. At the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., research on elephants is helping scientists develop a vaccine for a potentially fatal virus that affects herds in zoos and in the wild.

In addition, the AZA helps coordinate zoos’ efforts to protect more than 500 species. Those efforts include breeding endangered animals and, when possible, releasing them into the wild to help restore dwindling populations. Zoos have helped the black-footed ferret, the red wolf, and a handful of other species recover from the brink of extinction this way, says Ben A. Minteer, a conservation expert at Arizona State University.

Many of the nation’s best zoos have made it their mission to protect animals, particularly endangered ones. They do that in part by studying the species they house. At the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., research on elephants is helping scientists develop a vaccine for a potentially fatal virus. The virus affects herds in zoos and in the wild.

In addition, the AZA helps coordinate zoos’ efforts to protect more than 500 species. Those efforts include breeding endangered animals. And, when possible, zoos release those animals into the wild. This helps restore dwindling populations. Zoos have helped the black-footed ferret, the red wolf, and a handful of other species recover from the brink of extinction this way, says Ben A. Minteer. He is a conservation expert at Arizona State University.

Not a Simple Solution

Such efforts may sound noble, but zoo critics argue that many breeding programs focus more on sustaining zoo populations than saving species—and that many animals being bred aren’t endangered. Zoos, critics say, are more concerned with having baby animals, which bring people—and therefore more money—into the parks.

Plus, success stories like the red wolf’s are rare, Minteer says. “Each one of these cases takes an enormous effort—multiple zoos, government agencies, scientists, volunteers. It can take many millions of dollars. Once it’s back in the wild, the animal has to be monitored. It’s a never-ending process,” he explains.

Efforts to breed certain endangered species, such as giant pandas and lowland gorillas, have proven difficult—and, as in the case of the Sumatran tigers at the London Zoo, sometimes deadly. And many animals that zoos can breed successfully, including otters and even songbirds, lack the skills they need to survive in the wild.

Plus, some endangered animals don’t have a natural habitat to return to, says Lori Marino, a scientist who studies animal behavior in Kanab, Utah. “If their natural ecosystem is destroyed, then those animals must remain in captivity their entire lives,” Marino says. “That is not conservation.”

Such efforts may sound noble. But zoo critics argue that many breeding programs focus more on sustaining zoo populations than on saving species. They argue that many animals being bred are not endangered. Critics say that zoos are more concerned with having baby animals. The baby animals bring people, and therefore more money, into the parks.

Plus, success stories like the red wolf’s are rare, Minteer says. “Each one of these cases takes an enormous effort: multiple zoos, government agencies, scientists, volunteers. It can take many millions of dollars. Once it’s back in the wild, the animal has to be monitored. It’s a never-ending process,” he explains.

Zoos have found it hard to breed certain endangered species, such as giant pandas and lowland gorillas. And sometimes the efforts turn deadly, as in the case of the Sumatran tigers at the London Zoo. Zoos can breed many animals successfully, such as otters and songbirds. But those animals often lack the skills they need to survive in the wild.

Plus, some endangered animals do not have a natural habitat to return to, says Lori Marino. She is a scientist who studies animal behavior in Kanab, Utah. “If their natural ecosystem is destroyed, then those animals must remain in captivity their entire lives,” Marino says. “That is not conservation.”

Chuck Eckert/Alamy Stock Photo

TINY CELEBRITY: Baby animals, like this polar bear at Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, are a huge draw for visitors.

Bad for Animals’ Health?

Life in captivity is often difficult for animals, Marino says. Many show signs of stress and boredom. Big cats walk in endless loops. Polar bears rock their heads. Elephants sway. Such repetitive behaviors aren’t seen in the wild, Marino explains: “When you see a tiger pacing, that means it is very stressed.”

One study found that carnivores with naturally large ranges, such as polar bears, lions, and tigers, show the most stress in captivity. Wild polar bears’ home ranges can span 31,000 square miles—about a million times the size of a zoo’s typical polar bear enclosure.

Other research has shown that many animals are intelligent and experience a wide range of emotions. Elephants, for example, can recognize themselves in mirrors. They comfort other elephants that are distressed and grieve when a member of their herd dies. Critics say that knowing animals have such complex feelings should stop zoos from keeping them captive, with little control over their lives.

Life in captivity is often difficult for animals, Marino says. Many show signs of stress and boredom. Big cats walk in endless loops. Polar bears rock their heads. Elephants sway. Such repetitive behaviors are not seen in the wild, Marino explains. “When you see a tiger pacing, that means it is very stressed,” she says.

One study found that carnivores with naturally large ranges show the most stress in captivity. Such animals include polar bears, lions, and tigers. Wild polar bears’ home ranges can span 31,000 square miles. That is about a million times the size of a zoo’s typical polar bear enclosure.

Other research has shown that many animals are intelligent and experience a wide range of emotions. For example, elephants can recognize themselves in mirrors. They comfort other elephants that are distressed. They grieve when a member of their herd dies. Critics say that knowing animals have such complex feelings should stop zoos from keeping them captive, with little control over their lives.

A New Kind of Zoo

Elephant research has prompted more than 25 zoos in North America to close their elephant exhibits in recent years, sending their herds to sanctuaries with more room to roam.

Sanctuaries resemble animals’ natural environment and range more than zoos do, Marino says. In sanctuaries, “the animals’ health and well-being are a priority. People aren’t getting close to them. They’re getting back as much of their freedom as possible,” she says.

Elephant research has caused more than 25 zoos in North America to close their elephant exhibits in recent years. The zoos send their herds to sanctuaries with more room to roam.

Sanctuaries are more similar to animals’ natural environment and range than zoos are, Marino says. In sanctuaries, “the animals’ health and well-being are a priority. People aren’t getting close to them. They’re getting back as much of their freedom as possible,” she says.

Signs of a Good Zoo

Seal of Approval The logo of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums indicates that a zoo treats animals well and devotes money to education and conservation. 

Creature Comforts Look closely at the animals’ living conditions. Do the animals have enough space? Do their enclosures have enough elements to occupy and stimulate them? 

Teaching Tools Zoos should have signs posted about animals’ conservation status and life in the wild. They may also have staff available to answer visitors’ questions. 

Meanwhile, zoos are exploring new ways to prioritize animals’ needs. In 2011, the Philadelphia Zoo in Pennsylvania introduced a trail system for its animals. Tigers, red pandas, and other creatures cross the zoo overhead in mesh bridges and tunnels that give them more choice in where and when they roam. About 20 zoos worldwide have followed this approach.

And Jacksonville Zoo’s year-old great ape exhibit features several computerized learning stations that allow gorillas to communicate with zookeepers by pressing certain symbols, shapes, and colors. The technology helps reduce boredom and gives the gorillas a chance to have a say in their care. A massive tree at the exhibit’s center houses an area from which the zoo’s staff can study the apes—without intruding into their space.

Meanwhile, zoos are exploring new ways to put animals’ needs first. In 2011, the Philadelphia Zoo in Pennsylvania introduced a trail system for its animals. Tigers, red pandas, and other creatures cross the zoo overhead in mesh bridges and tunnels. This system gives them more choice in where and when they roam. About 20 zoos worldwide have followed this approach.

And Jacksonville Zoo’s year-old great ape exhibit features several computerized learning stations. These allow gorillas to communicate with zookeepers by pressing certain symbols, shapes, and colors. The technology helps reduce boredom. It also gives the gorillas a chance to have a say in their care. At the exhibit’s center, a huge tree houses an area from which the zoo’s staff can study the apes without intruding into their space.

Finding the Right Balance

Are such changes enough to make life in zoos positive for animals? The debate over whether zoos are ethical continues. But the upgrades have attracted visitors. U.S. zoo attendance has risen by 20 percent over the past 15 years.

Still, even supporters know that zoos must maintain a delicate balance of keeping their animals happy, giving visitors access to them, and protecting animals from extinction in the wild.

Says Vernon, “Zoos today must exist for a higher purpose.” 

Says Vernon, “Zoos today must exist for a higher purpose.”

Write About It!  Is it OK to keep animals in zoos? Find at least three pieces of evidence in the article or sidebars to support your opinion. Then use that evidence and additional research to write an argument essay.

Continue the learning journey.

• Think about the changes zoos have made over the past few decades and the debate over whether zoos benefit animals. Now imagine you were just put in charge of a zoo in your city or town. It's up to you to decide: do you keep the zoo open or close the zoo. Which would you decide? Write a letter to members of your community explaining your decision. Be sure to use facts and details mentioned in the story to support your decision.
• Imagine you're designing the perfect environment for yourself. Describe what it would be: A library room filled with books and snacks? the perfect playground? Now do the same for a sibling or friend. How are the two similar? How are they different?

Interactive Quiz for this article

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Essay on Zoo for Students and Children

500 words essay on zoo.

The world is a huge place to see. It consists of so many living organisms that it is impossible to see each and every one of them. Especially for human beings, who are fascinated very much by animals. For the same reasons, zoos were created so that humans can interact better with animals.

In other words, a zoo is a facility that has animals, birds, and reptiles of all kinds. They are confined to space where they are given food and medical facilities. The government has given strict guidelines to maintain a zoo. This is done keeping in mind the animal’s safety. In addition, zoos are made breeding grounds for animals to protect their species.

Benefits of Zoo

Zoos were made to bring wildlife closer to humans. It gave humans a better and up-close view of them. This allows various researchers and scientists to note the behavioral pattern of the animals. It helps them in their studies and discover new things.

In addition, zoos are a great source of entertainment for kids. They love visiting zoos and interacting with animals. This helps them learn practical knowledge about the animal. It also gives them exposure to wildlife and widens their knowledge.

Furthermore, zoos give us easy access to rare animals. Had it not been for zoos, we would have never been able to see what some animals looked like. We enjoy their behavior and it also creates awareness about the extinction of the rare species.

Similarly, zoos are a safe breeding ground for animals. They ensure the animal breeds so they never go extinct. This helps in creating a good balance. Moreover, the zoos ensure the animals get all the nutrition in their bodies to lead a healthy life. This is beneficial as the animal may not get guaranteed meals in the forests.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Disadvantages of Zoo

While the zoo is a great place for entertainment, it is also very exploitive. It takes advantage of the poor animals to make a profit off them. The zoos keep animals in very bad conditions. It takes unethical methods just to create revenue.

Furthermore, zoos are very unfair to animals. They take the animals out of their natural habitats just for the sake of human entertainment. Why would the animals be put into cages as humans want them to? They are voiceless creatures who are being forced to live in poor conditions. Imagine putting humans into cages so animals could come to see them. It sounds inhumane the other way around but not when we do the same to animals.

Most importantly, zoos do not take proper care of exotic animals. They bring them over in their facility despite knowing that they cannot survive in that climate. Some zoos do not take enough precautionary measures to keep the animals safe. This has resulted in so many deaths of animals that it seems cruel.

In short, though zoos are very helpful to humans and animals to an extent. They must be monitored constantly to ensure the animals are safe. The unethical zoos must be shut down at once to prevent any further loss of animals.

FAQs on Zoo

Q.1 List the advantages of Zoo

A.1 Zoos bring the wildlife close to humans. It helps researchers study them closely and discover new things. It protects rare species and provides a safe breeding ground for them as well.

Q.2 How are zoos harmful to animals?

A.2 Zoos are very harmful to animals. They take them out of their natural habitat for human entertainment. They make them stay in poor conditions due to which they also lose their life and get infections.

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Ielts sample essay -- zoos (cruel or useful) (discuss both views; give opinion).

IELTS Writing Task 2 (Essay) Question

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Some people think that zoos are cruel and all the zoos should be closed. However, others think that zoos are useful to protect rare animals. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

For a step-by-step guide on how to plan and write this essay, visit our YouTube channel: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZYptep42Go&t=115s

Sample Essay #1 

(Using 3 points arguing that zoos are useful and 1 point arguing that zoos are cruel; Conclusion: conditionally agree with the opinion that zoos are useful)

Visit to a zoo is part of fond childhood memories of almost everyone. Yet, it has become a contentious subject in recent years whether zoos serve an overall positive purpose.  Since there seem to be valid supporting arguments for both perspectives, this essay will discuss them and reach a logical conclusion based on the presented line of reasoning.

Firstly, these establishments provide a safe place for wild animals from poachers and other risks. This is especially crucial for rare and endangered species. For example, tigers and pandas are kept in different zoos across the globe because of which their numbers have grown manifold over the years.  Secondly, these zoological parks are needed by researchers and scientists to study animals.  Lastly, menageries, such as zoos, are an ideal location for edutainment. That is to say, these establishments are not only an ideal source of entertainment for people of all age groups but they are also a way to impart education to children regarding animals. As a result of visit to such places, children may feel an affinity towards animals. What is more, zoos are a brilliant means of creating awareness about environmental issues.

On the other hand, those who oppose zoos and want them to be closed assert that animals are not treated well in zoos. These animals are caged in confined spaces. The cages and enclosures are tiny compared to the natural habitat of these animals. For instance, a tiger which is one of the fastest animals is sometimes kept in small cages. Similarly, monkeys which can jump from one tree to another in seconds are at times confined to a small area with just 2-3 trees.

In conclusion, my opinion is that zoos have many benefits which have been proven over the years and they should certainly not be closed. We should, however, ensure that the animals in zoos have larger spaces where they can move about.

Sample Essay #2 

(Using 3 points arguing that zoos are useful and 3 points arguing that zoos are cruel; Conclusion: zoos are cruel)

(first two paragraphs are almost the same as the previous essay)

Firstly, these establishments provide a safe place for wild animals from poachers and other risks. This is especially crucial for rare and endangered species. For example, tigers and pandas are kept in different zoos across the globe because of which their numbers have grown manifold over the years.  Secondly, these zoological parks are needed by researchers and scientists to study animals.  Lastly, menageries, such as zoos, are an ideal location for edutainment. That is to say, these establishments are not only an ideal source of entertainment for people of all age groups but they are also a way to impart education to children regarding animals. As a result of visits to such places, children may feel an affinity towards animals. What is more, zoos are a brilliant means of creating awareness about environmental issues.

On the other hand, it is necessary to accept that no creature should be treated as if it is for the entertainment of humankind. Hence, the treatment of wild animals in zoos has to be considered as brutal as their freedom is hampered. What is worse, the animals bred in captivity are incapable of adapting to the wild environment and thus can never be released into the wild. For instance, if a chimpanzee is born in a zoo environment, it would never be able to live in a forest. This chimpanzee would not know how to live with other wild animals or find food for itself.

In conclusion, although it seems that there are quite a few positives of zoos, I strongly believe they are an atrocity and closing is the only ethical recourse.

Sample Essay #3

(Using 3 points arguing that zoos are useful and 3 points arguing that zoos are cruel; Conclusion: zoos are cruel + alternatives to benefits of zoos)

(first three paragraphs are almost the same as the previous essay)

In conclusion, although it seems that there are quite a few positives of zoos, I strongly believe they are an atrocity and closing them is the only ethical recourse. As far as education is concerned, we now have a wide range of audio-visual media for this purpose. A practical example of this is the fact that no child has ever seen a dinosaur but through movies, documentaries, animations, and museums, they are very familiar with these extinct creatures. Similarly, for research and conservation purposes, wildlife sanctuaries and national parks should be encouraged where the focus is the well-being of the animals and not the amusement of human visitors.

Different ways of writing the first paragraph for this essay

• Visit to a zoo is part of fond childhood memories of almost everyone. Yet, it has become a contentious subject in recent years whether zoos serve an overall positive purpose.
• Zoos are looked upon as an important source of edutainment where children can acquire knowledge of a variety of flora and fauna in an entertaining environment. However, in recent times, animal rights activists have raised a question over whether these zoos are in reality proof of cruelty to animals by us humans.
• Since humans are a curious race, they find different means to know about nature. One such method is to visit a zoo and observe animals in a leisurely manner. The problem is that not everyone agrees that zoos are beneficial. Actually, certain sections of society believe zoos to be establishments of cruelty towards the animals which are kept there.
• Should zoos be encouraged because they serve a useful purpose or should they be shut down because animals in zoos are treated inhumanely? This has become a contentious subject in recent times which deserves serious thought and discussion.

Different ways of writing the topic sentence (first sentence of second paragraph)  for this essay

• There are many ways through which zoos are beneficial.
• The useful impact of zoos have long been known.
• The useful benefits of zoos have long been known.
• Many past generations have advocated the benefits of zoos.
• There are a number of useful applications of zoos.

Different ways of writing the conclusion for this essay

• Conditionally agree Both sides have valid arguments in their favour because of which, in my opinion, zoos are important but we need to ensure that the animals there are treated humanely.
• More points for one side than the other Although there are a few reasons to support the closing of zoos, the arguments for the benefits of zoos are more. Therefore, in my opinion, zoos are helpful to society and should remain open. However, it should be ensured that the animals in zoos are treated humanely.  

Step 1: Read & understand the question

Step 2: Plan the answer (points for both views)

Step 3: Think about the vocabulary

Step 4: Write

Step 5: Revise

Basic format/template:

Paragraph 1 : Introduction

•        General statement (optional)

•        Paraphrasing of the question

•        This essay will discuss both the opinions before reaching a conclusion based on the arguments presented.

Paragraph 2 (body paragraph 1): Discuss one viewpoint

•        Topic sentence (E.g., There are a number of reasons to support this opinion)

•        Beginning phrases (Firstly/To begin with); Supporting points (Secondly/Thirdly; Moreover/Furthermore)

Paragraph 3 (body paragraph 2): Discuss the other viewpoint

•        Topic sentence (E.g., On the other hand, the opposing viewpoint can also have valid supporting arguments)

•        Supporting points

Paragraph 4 : Conclusion

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• Zoo Visitors' Disinterest in Local Plants and Trumpeter Hornbills May Preclude Visitors from Contributing to Forest Conservation Efforts
• Do Zoos Do More Harm Than Good?

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• Oct 27, 2022

Student Opinion: Zoos should be banned

Do you think zoos are nice places for animals to live? If you do, think again. Zoos are actually harmful to animals. There are three main reasons why. First, zoos breed animals inhumanely. Second, they do not help animals return to the wild. Third, they do not take good enough care of the animals. For these reasons, zoos should be shut down and banned, or stopped altogether.

The first reason zoos should be banned is that they breed captive animals. Zoos breed animals so that they will have baby animals to show the public. Most zoo animals are born inside zoos. Many are raised without ever seeing their original, wild homes. When zoos have too many animals, they do not return them to the wild. They simply kill the "extra" animals.

Take this example from 2014. The Copenhagen Zoo is located in Denmark, a country in northern Europe. A giraffe there named Marius was raised as a baby in the zoo. He was loved by the public. Yet, when he became an adult, he was killed. The zoo's staff shot him. They didn't think he would be useful. They had other male giraffes they could breed instead of Marius.

Baby animals attract more visitors than older animals. Killing an adult animal opens up space and resources to bring in a younger animal. That animal can draw bigger crowds and more money. That is the real reason Marius was killed. The zoo made less money as he grew up. People were more interested in Marius when he was a baby than when he became an adult.

The second reason zoos should be banned is that they rarely help endangered animals return to their original habitats. A report by National Geographic found that most zoos do not have any contact with reintroduction programs.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is a nonprofit organization that fights for animal rights. According to them, fewer than one-fifth of the animals in United States zoos are actually endangered. When an animal species is endangered, it is at risk of dying out completely. Zoos spend tons of money building enclosures for animals. Yet, they do almost nothing to restore wild habitats or to stop poaching in wild environments.

Finally, zoos simply do not have enough resources to properly house the creatures that live there. Wild habitats cannot be remade in spaces where animals are held captive. An opinion article called "All the Reasons Why Zoos Should Be Banned" was published by Vice in 2015. It said polar bears in zoos have up to 18,000 times less space than they do in the wild.

Animals cannot be healthy in zoos. Seventy-five percent of elephants kept in zoos are overweight, according to the article. Forty percent of lion cubs pass away before their full life span. This data supports the argument that zoos do not have the resources to support animals' well-being, health and populations. The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) has reported that around 3,000 to 5,000 animals are killed each year in zoos in Europe. Many more animals show signs of zoochosis. This is a psychological disorder observed in zoo animals that leads to pacing, bar biting and other repeated behaviors.

Zoos should make an effort to reintroduce the animals they own into natural habitats. Some could be returned to the wild. However, many zoo animals would not be able to survive in the wild. These animals should then be sent to sanctuaries where they can live peacefully.

Zoos inhumanely source and breed animals. They do little to improve wildlife populations. Zoos also do little to help the public understand their impact on wildlife. Also, they cannot provide what is needed to support animals' lives. Zoos should reintroduce their animals into the wild or into sanctuary settings. This will have the added benefit of relieving zoos of the burden of keeping these animals alive. Isn't that a win-win?

Megan Zhou is a sixth-grade student at Sycamore Ridge School in San Diego, California.

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Opinion For presidents, it’s not age but judgment that matters

A derided Wall Street Journal article about Biden “slipping” warrants a reset of 2024 coverage.

The widespread media condemnation of a shoddy front-page Wall Street Journal article about President Biden “slipping” with age suggests we may have reached a journalistic inflection point.

The Journal article relied almost entirely on the views of two highly partisan Republicans to support its Biden-is-slipping thesis: House Speaker Mike Johnson and former speaker Kevin McCarthy. Maybe the overwhelmingly negative response by other journalists to what was essentially the promotion of a right-wing meme will reduce such irresponsible reporting as the election year continues.

The issue, certainly, goes beyond being influenced by MAGA narratives or failing to adequately examine the mental and emotional state of felon and former president Donald Trump . (But, given Trump’s innumerable unhinged rants, it just might be time to rethink whether a candidate’s psychiatric state is journalistically out of bounds.)

Rather, the Journal’s faceplant should lead to a much larger discussion: to what extent and in what way age matters to the performance of the chief executive . Frankly, it has nothing to do with the sort of factors Biden’s critics obsess over (e.g., verbal slips, how fast he moves).

Political journalists tend to deal heavily in the realm of politicians’ quips and comebacks, as well as horse-race politics and presidential “visuals.” They naturally then come to think of a president — with whom they interact in debates, news conferences and interviews — as a media performer. Does he misspeak? Does he physically stumble? Focusing on such relatively superficial subjects has come to define political journalism.

But let’s stop for a moment. A president’s gait, verbal tics and minor recall errors have virtually nothing to do with the job of being president. The White House occupant is not a “Jeopardy!” contestant, a stand-up comic, a talk-show host or guest; the president is the head of the executive branch and commander in chief.

The job of being president is executive management, something with which political reporters (as opposed to business reporters) have virtually no expertise. We should be asking whether a candidate can absorb necessary details, make good personnel decisions, reach sound conclusions, evaluate risk and consider the consequences of actions. Can the president separate personal interests from the interests of the nation, of allies or even the planet? That is what the president does, day after day.

And we do not need to be armchair psychiatrists to evaluate that sort of presidential fitness. As I have written , Trump’s closest colleagues tell us that he is willfully ignorant, cannot grasp basic concepts, cannot absorb written material . As for his hiring decisions, by his own admission , he has hired a slew of dumb or incompetent people. He gloms on to ridiculous quack theories , and he channels the ideas and rhetoric of America’s enemies and of historical villains .

Trump cannot keep national secrets — or understand they are not “his.” He is incapable of grasping the values and ethos of military service . Because he is so susceptible to flattery and so thin-skinned, he cannot tell friend from foe . And as his former national security adviser John Bolton put it , “Trump really cares only about retribution for himself, and it will consume much of a second term.”

Part and parcel of good decision-making is impulse control. If one cannot refrain from lashing out in anger at allies, spilling secrets to U.S. enemies , or launching personal attacks and threats against fellow Americans (in defiance of court orders, no less), one cannot be entrusted with the immense responsibilities of the presidency. (There might also be something seriously wrong with you, but that is beside the point.)

Moreover, we know how Trump’s decision-making turned out. He downplayed the coronavirus , and hundreds of thousands of Americans died unnecessarily. He concocted the “big lie” about the 2020 election and, unable to admit losing, incited a riot at the U.S. Capitol. He didn’t want to reveal embarrassing sexual impropriety, so he broke the law in New York — 34 times.

You don’t need to make a specific medical diagnosis to see that the essential aspects of the presidency — judgment, reading comprehension, discretion, unselfish decision-making, appreciation for military sacrifice — are utterly beyond Trump.

At the most basic level, Biden, while three years older, can discern friend from foe , reveres the military , understands the value of alliances , generally hires capable advisers, puts together complex legislative deals and exhibits inexhaustible empathy for others’ suffering. He complies with the legal process (e.g., sitting down with special counsel Robert K. Hur ), follows Supreme Court decisions (and then explores alternatives, as he did on student debt) and engages in successful international diplomacy. He talks in depth about policy.

It’s reasonable to conclude that, with age, Biden has gained immense experience, formed relationships and absorbed data that helps guide his current decision-making. Should we care that he walks more stiffly than he did 10 years ago? (FDR served 12 years in a wheelchair.)

In sum, the measure of a president — regardless of that officeholder’s level of spryness or eloquence — is the capacity to perform a singularly important job: making good decisions on behalf of others in keeping with our laws and national values . No reasonable person would conclude, based on all available evidence, that Trump can do so; no fair person would conclude that Biden’s age impedes him from doing so.

• AI firms mustn’t govern themselves, say ex-members of OpenAI’s board

For humanity’s sake, regulation is needed to tame market forces, argue Helen Toner and Tasha McCauley

C AN PRIVATE companies pushing forward the frontier of a revolutionary new technology be expected to operate in the interests of both their shareholders and the wider world? When we were recruited to the board of OpenAI—Tasha in 2018 and Helen in 2021—we were cautiously optimistic that the company’s innovative approach to self-governance could offer a blueprint for responsible AI development. But based on our experience, we believe that self-governance cannot reliably withstand the pressure of profit incentives. With AI ’s enormous potential for both positive and negative impact, it’s not sufficient to assume that such incentives will always be aligned with the public good. For the rise of AI to benefit everyone, governments must begin building effective regulatory frameworks now.

If any company could have successfully governed itself while safely and ethically developing advanced AI systems, it would have been OpenAI . The organisation was originally established as a non-profit with a laudable mission: to ensure that AGI , or artificial general intelligence— AI systems that are generally smarter than humans—would benefit “all of humanity”. Later, a for-profit subsidiary was created to raise the necessary capital, but the non-profit stayed in charge. The stated purpose of this unusual structure was to protect the company’s ability to stick to its original mission, and the board’s mandate was to uphold that mission. It was unprecedented, but it seemed worth trying. Unfortunately it didn’t work.

Last November, in an effort to salvage this self-regulatory structure, the OpenAI board dismissed its CEO , Sam Altman. The board’s ability to uphold the company’s mission had become increasingly constrained due to long-standing patterns of behaviour exhibited by Mr Altman, which, among other things, we believe undermined the board’s oversight of key decisions and internal safety protocols. Multiple senior leaders had privately shared grave concerns with the board, saying they believed that Mr Altman cultivated “a toxic culture of lying” and engaged in “behaviour [that] can be characterised as psychological abuse”. According to OpenAI, an internal investigation found that the board had “acted within its broad discretion” to dismiss Mr Altman, but also concluded that his conduct did not “mandate removal”. OpenAI relayed few specifics justifying this conclusion, and it did not make the investigation report available to employees, the press or the public.

The question of whether such behaviour should generally “mandate removal” of a CEO is a discussion for another time. But in OpenAI’s specific case, given the board’s duty to provide independent oversight and protect the company’s public-interest mission, we stand by the board’s action to dismiss Mr Altman. We also feel that developments since he returned to the company—including his reinstatement to the board and the departure of senior safety-focused talent—bode ill for the OpenAI experiment in self-governance.

Our particular story offers the broader lesson that society must not let the roll-out of AI be controlled solely by private tech companies. Certainly, there are numerous genuine efforts in the private sector to guide the development of this technology responsibly, and we applaud those efforts. But even with the best of intentions, without external oversight, this kind of self-regulation will end up unenforceable, especially under the pressure of immense profit incentives. Governments must play an active role.

And yet, in recent months, a rising chorus of voices—from Washington lawmakers to Silicon Valley investors—has advocated minimal government regulation of AI . Often, they draw parallels with the laissez-faire approach to the internet in the 1990s and the economic growth it spurred. However, this analogy is misleading.

Inside AI companies, and throughout the larger community of researchers and engineers in the field, the high stakes—and large risks—of developing increasingly advanced AI are widely acknowledged. In Mr Altman’s own words, “Successfully transitioning to a world with superintelligence is perhaps the most important—and hopeful, and scary—project in human history.” The level of concern expressed by many top AI scientists about the technology they themselves are building is well documented and very different from the optimistic attitudes of the programmers and network engineers who developed the early internet.

It is also far from clear that light-touch regulation of the internet has been an unalloyed good for society. Certainly, many successful tech businesses—and their investors—have benefited enormously from the lack of constraints on commerce online. It is less obvious that societies have struck the right balance when it comes to regulating to curb misinformation and disinformation on social media, child exploitation and human trafficking, and a growing youth mental-health crisis.

Goods, infrastructure and society are improved by regulation. It’s because of regulation that cars have seat belts and airbags, that we don’t worry about contaminated milk and that buildings are constructed to be accessible to all. Judicious regulation could ensure the benefits of AI are realised responsibly and more broadly. A good place to start would be policies that give governments more visibility into how the cutting edge of AI is progressing, such as transparency requirements and incident-tracking.

Of course, there are pitfalls to regulation, and these must be managed. Poorly designed regulation can place a disproportionate burden on smaller companies, stifling competition and innovation. It is crucial that policymakers act independently of leading AI companies when developing new rules. They must be vigilant against loopholes, regulatory “moats” that shield early movers from competition, and the potential for regulatory capture. Indeed, Mr Altman’s own calls for AI regulation must be understood in the context of these pitfalls as having potentially self-serving ends. An appropriate regulatory framework will require agile adjustments, keeping pace with the world’s expanding grasp of AI ’s capabilities.

Ultimately, we believe in AI ’s potential to boost human productivity and well-being in ways never before seen. But the path to that better future is not without peril. OpenAI was founded as a bold experiment to develop increasingly capable AI while prioritising the public good over profits. Our experience is that even with every advantage, self-governance mechanisms like those employed by OpenAI will not suffice. It is, therefore, essential that the public sector be closely involved in the development of the technology. Now is the time for governmental bodies around the world to assert themselves. Only through a healthy balance of market forces and prudent regulation can we reliably ensure that AI ’s evolution truly benefits all of humanity. ■

Helen Toner and Tasha McCauley were on OpenAI’s board from 2021 to 2023 and from 2018 to 2023, respectively.

Read a response to this article by Bret Taylor, the chair of Open AI’ s board, and Larry Summers, a board member.

Explore more

By invitation june 1st 2024.

• OpenAI board members respond to a warning by former members

From the June 1st 2024 edition

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Digital finance is a money-launderer’s dream, argues an author

Curbing dirty money will require both governments and techies to be less dogmatic, says Geoff White

American business should not empower a criminal, says Reid Hoffman

No rational CEO would want a capricious strongman in the White House, argues the entrepreneur

A whack-a-mole approach to big tech won’t do, says Europe’s antitrust chief

Margrethe Vestager insists that openness need not come at the expense of security

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Sergei Ryakhovsky

The balashikha ripper, the hippopotamus,   active for 6 years (1988-1993) in russia, confirmed victims, possible victims.

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Sergei Ryakhovsky (Sergei Vasilyevich Ryakhovsky) a Soviet-Russian serial killer known as the Balashikha Ripper and The Hippopotamus. Ryakhovsky was convicted for the killing of nineteen people in the Moscow area between 1988 and 1993. Ryakhovsky's mainly stabbed or strangulated his victims, he mutilated some bodies, mainly in the genital area. Allegedly Ryakhovsky carried out necrophilic acts on his victims and stole their belongings. Ryakhovsky standing 6’5" tall and weighting 286 pounds, gaining him the nickname, The Hippo. Sergei Ryakhovsky died on January 21st 2005 from untreated tuberculosis while serving his life sentence in prison.

Sergei Ryakhovsky Serial Killer Profile

Serial Killer Sergei Ryakhovsky (aka) the Balashikha Ripper, The Hippopotamus, was active for 6 years between 1988-1993 , known to have ( 19 confirmed / 19 possible ) victims. This serial killer was active in the following countries: Russia

Sergei Ryakhovsky was born on December 29th 1962 in Balashikha, Moscow Oblast, Soviet Union. He had a physically defect. During his education he had academic, social or discipline problems including being teased or picked on.

Sergei Ryakhovsky a necrophile male citizen of Russia.

Prior to his spree he had killed, commited crimes, and served time in jail.

In 1988 (Age 25/26) Sergei Ryakhovsky started his killing spree, during his crimes as a serial killer he was known to rob, commit acts of necrophilia , torture , strangle , rape , mutilate, and murder his victims.

He was arrested on April 13th 1993 (Age 30), sentenced to death by firing squad at a maximum-security penal colony in Solikamsk, Perm Oblast, Russia. He was convicted on charges of murder and other possible charges during his lifetime.

Sergei Ryakhovsky died on January 21st 2005 (Age 42), cause of death: natural causes, untreated tuberculosis at a maximum-security penal colony in Solikamsk, Perm Oblast, Russia.

Profile Completeness: 62%

Sergei Ryakhovsky has been listed on Killer.Cloud since November of 2016 and was last updated 4 years ago.

Sergei Ryakhovsky a known:

( 651 killers ) serial killer.

The unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender(s), in separate events. Serial Killer as defined by the FBI at the 2005 symposium.

( 308 killers ) RAPIST

Rape is usually defined as having sexual intercourse with a person who does not want to, or cannot consent.

( 60 killers ) NECROPHILIAC

Necrophilia, also called thanatophilia, is a sexual attraction or sexual act involving corpses. Serial Killer Necrophiliacs have been known to have sex with the body of their victim(s).

( 89 killers ) TORTURER

Torture is when someone puts another person in pain. This pain may be physical or psychological. Tourturers touture their victims.

( 251 killers ) STRANGLER

Strangulation is death by compressing the neck until the supply of oxygen is cut off. Stranglers kill by Strangulation.

Sergei Ryakhovsky Serial Killer Profile:

Updated: 2019-06-30 collected by killer.cloud.

8 Timeline Events of Serial Killer Sergei Ryakhovsky

The 8 dates listed below represent a timeline of the life and crimes of serial killer Sergei Ryakhovsky. A complete collection of serial killer events can be found on our Serial Killer Timeline .

Back to top Serial Killers Active During

The following serial killers were active during the same time span as Sergei Ryakhovsky (1988-1993).

William Patrick Fyfe 5 Victims during 21 Years

Samuel little 60 victims during 36 years, valery asratyan 3 victims during 3 years, gary charles evans 5 victims during 13 years, serial killers by active year.

Books that Mention Sergei Ryakhovsky

Kevin Smith

Serial killer stranglers.

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Sergey Kuznetsov

Butterfly skin.

Geraldine Fagan

Believing in russia.

Danny Schäfer

Freedom of religion or belief. anti-sect move....

100 of the Most Famous Serial Killers of All...

Stanley M. Burgess

The new international dictionary of pentecost....

External References

• Sergei Ryakhovsky on en.wikipedia.org , Retrieved on Sep 18, 2018 .
• Juan Ignacio Blanco , Sergei Vasilyevich RYAKHOVSKY on murderpedia.org , Retrieved on Sep 18, 2018 .
• Q372816 on www.wikidata.org , Retrieved on Oct 9, 2018 .

Sergei Ryakhovsky is included in the following pages on Killer.Cloud the Serial Killer Database

• #3 of 45[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killers with birthdays in December
• #10 of 60[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killer Necrophiliacs sorted by Confirmed Victims
• #10 of 29[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killers active in Russia
• #10 of 55[ Page 1 ] of Capricorn Serial Killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
• #11 of 89[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killer Torturers sorted by Confirmed Victims
• #27 of 250[ Page 2 ] of Serial Killer Stranglers sorted by Confirmed Victims
• #35 of 307[ Page 3 ] of Serial Killer Rapist sorted by Confirmed Victims
• #63 of 651[ Page 5 ] of serial killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
• #264 of 651[ Page 18 ] of serial killers sorted by Years Active
• #381 of 651[ Page 26 ] of serial killers sorted by Profile Completeness
• #516 of 651[ Page 35 ] of the A-Z List of Serial Killers

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Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

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Welcome Back, Pandas! Two Furry Diplomats Are Headed to the D.C. Zoo.

The pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao, will be flown to the Smithsonian National Zoo from China before the end of the year.

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Two Giant Pandas Will Head to D.C.’s National Zoo From China

The smithsonian’s national zoo and conservation biology institute said that pandas, bao li and qing bao, will be flown over before the end of the year..

The Smithsonian and the China Wildlife Conservation Association have reached a 10-year cooperative breeding and research agreement for giant pandas.

By Katie Rogers and Aishvarya Kavi

Reporting from Washington

It was a long and terrible six months without giant pandas, Washington’s most famous symbol of literal soft diplomacy, but this unbearable (sorry) drought will soon be over.

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute announced on Wednesday that two new fuzzy diplomats will soon be on their way to the United States from China. The pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao, will be flown over before the end of the year, the zoo said in a statement .

They are both 2 years old — young for a Washington power couple — and their anticipated arrival is after the departure in November of two adult pandas, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, who are the grandparents of the male, Bao Li.

The giant panda swapping has been a characteristic of a longtime pact between the Smithsonian and the China Wildlife Conservation Association. Last year, when the agreement keeping the three in the United States expired, panda fans and diplomats alike worried about tensions between China and Washington, and whether those strained ties would prevent the program from continuing.

At a diplomatic summit in San Francisco in November, Xi Jinping, China’s leader, hinted that the pandas, which he called “ envoys of friendship ” between the two countries, could be returning to the United States. As it turns out, the two zoos hammered out another agreement without the help of high-level diplomacy, according to officials familiar with the pact who were not authorized to speak publicly about such delicate matters. The San Diego Zoo will also receive a pair of pandas, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in China confirmed earlier this month.

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Gagarin Cup Preview: Atlant vs. Salavat Yulaev

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Share All sharing options for: Gagarin Cup Preview: Atlant vs. Salavat Yulaev

Gagarin cup (khl) finals:  atlant moscow oblast vs. salavat yulaev ufa.

Much like the Elitserien Finals, we have a bit of an offense vs. defense match-up in this league Final.  While Ufa let their star top line of Alexander Radulov, Patrick Thoresen and Igor Grigorenko loose on the KHL's Western Conference, Mytischi played a more conservative style, relying on veterans such as former NHLers Jan Bulis, Oleg Petrov, and Jaroslav Obsut.  Just reaching the Finals is a testament to Atlant's disciplined style of play, as they had to knock off much more high profile teams from Yaroslavl and St. Petersburg to do so.  But while they did finish 8th in the league in points, they haven't seen the likes of Ufa, who finished 2nd. 

This series will be a challenge for the underdog, because unlike some of the other KHL teams, Ufa's top players are generally younger and in their prime.  Only Proshkin amongst regular blueliners is over 30, with the work being shared by Kirill Koltsov (28), Andrei Kuteikin (26), Miroslav Blatak (28), Maxim Kondratiev (28) and Dmitri Kalinin (30).  Oleg Tverdovsky hasn't played a lot in the playoffs to date.  Up front, while led by a fairly young top line (24-27), Ufa does have a lot of veterans in support roles:  Vyacheslav Kozlov , Viktor Kozlov , Vladimir Antipov, Sergei Zinovyev and Petr Schastlivy are all over 30.  In fact, the names of all their forwards are familiar to international and NHL fans:  Robert Nilsson , Alexander Svitov, Oleg Saprykin and Jakub Klepis round out the group, all former NHL players.

For Atlant, their veteran roster, with only one of their top six D under the age of 30 (and no top forwards under 30, either), this might be their one shot at a championship.  The team has never won either a Russian Superleague title or the Gagarin Cup, and for players like former NHLer Oleg Petrov, this is probably the last shot at the KHL's top prize.  The team got three extra days rest by winning their Conference Final in six games, and they probably needed to use it.  Atlant does have younger regulars on their roster, but they generally only play a few shifts per game, if that. 

The low event style of game for Atlant probably suits them well, but I don't know how they can manage to keep up against Ufa's speed, skill, and depth.  There is no advantage to be seen in goal, with Erik Ersberg and Konstantin Barulin posting almost identical numbers, and even in terms of recent playoff experience Ufa has them beat.  Luckily for Atlant, Ufa isn't that far away from the Moscow region, so travel shouldn't play a major role. 

I'm predicting that Ufa, winners of the last Superleague title back in 2008, will become the second team to win the Gagarin Cup, and will prevail in five games.  They have a seriously well built team that would honestly compete in the NHL.  They represent the potential of the league, while Atlant represents closer to the reality, as a team full of players who played themselves out of the NHL. 

• Atlant @ Ufa, Friday Apr 8 (3:00 PM CET/10:00 PM EST)
• Atlant @ Ufa, Sunday Apr 10 (1:00 PM CET/8:00 AM EST)
• Ufa @ Atlant, Tuesday Apr 12 (5:30 PM CET/12:30 PM EST)
• Ufa @ Atlant, Thursday Apr 14 (5:30 PM CET/12:30 PM EST)

Games 5-7 are as yet unscheduled, but every second day is the KHL standard, so expect Game 5 to be on Saturday, like an early start. 

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